Netball: Bronze for Berwickshire

Peebles Under 13s netball team made it three in a row when winning the Border League title on Sunday

BERWICKSHIRE struggled in the Border League play day at Peebles, with the hosts dominant at Under-13 and Under-15s.

AITKEN TURNBULL UNDER-13 BORDER LEAGUE

Hawick A 20 Berwickshire 14

Peebles 42 Hawick B 2

AITKEN TURNBULL UNDER-15 BORDER LEAGUE

Peebles B 45 Hawick B 5

Earlston A 29 Berwickshire A 18

Peebles A 33 Berwickshire B 8

THE fourth Aitken Turnbull Border League play day took place in Peebles with five matches played at Under-13 and Under-15 level.

The event brought to a close this season’s Under-13 league which has seen five teams from across the Borders playing in a round robin format, with points adding up to determine the overall placings.

Peebles had dominated the league from the start with three wins behind them coming into the final day and, true to form, they produced another storming performance on home territory with a convincing 42-2 win over Hawick B. Peebles’ unbeaten record ensured they lifted the league title for the third year in succession.

Battling it out for silver and bronze placings were Hawick A and Berwickshire squads, both on equal points coming into the weekend, and drawn head-to-head for their final match. The match proved to be as exciting as billed, with the outcome too close to call until the final quarter, when the Teries pulled away with a series of fast-flowing moves and some accurate shooting.

At Under-15 level, eight teams compete in two pools with sides separated into championship and plate sections in February.

Peebles A and B squads racked up valuable points, both producing solid victories over Berwickshire B and Hawick B teams respectively, making use of their home advantage.

The biggest upset of day came in the Earlston v Berwickshire match.

With Earlston struggling to find form this season, and Berwickshire already producing some outstanding performances, many would have considered a win for the former a distinct long shot. However, Earlston appeared to have moved up several gears with tremendous mid-court movement and skill, gaining them an unexpected, but well-deserved victory by 29-18.

With two games scheduled for January, before the pool placings are finalised, only Peebles A, so far, are assured of a definite place in the championship section, based on their unbeaten record this season.